James Mick on the Importance of Delivery in Rehearsal

Scott Yoho
James Mick on the Importance of Delivery in Rehearsal

James Mick is an associate professor of music education at Ithaca College in upstate New York. In February I heard Dr. Mick give an inspiring TMEA workshop on getting the most out of your orchestra rehearsals. His presentation was extremely informative and offered many really practical suggestions for improvement. We spoke more recently about just one aspect of his presentation, focusing on the importance of how a director delivers information.

Streamline Your End-of-Year Auditions with SmartMusic

SmartMusic Official
Streamline End-of-Year Auditions with SmartMusic

We all understand the value of end-of-year auditions, but they take so much time! Learn how to make the process more efficient – for both you and your students – using SmartMusic.

In this archived webinar, Giovanna Cruz will help you:

Make the audition process fair and transparent to everyone Save time by coordinating auditions at home, so kids aren’t lining up at your door Empower your students and minimize their anxiety Review student performances on your schedule and timeframe

The new SmartMusic can improve auditions and much more for only $40/year.

How Dan Pinkston’s band students use SmartMusic at home

SmartMusic Official
How Dan Pinkston’s band students use SmartMusic at home

When working up new repertoire, Dan assigns each student one of the more challenging and/or important sections via SmartMusic. When students practice this material at home with immediate feedback, they prepare notes and rhythms more quickly. What’s more, Dan also encourages students to listen to the recording of the professional ensemble that accompanies their assignments to get a sense of phrasing, shaping, dynamics, and more.

Maximizing the School Counselor’s Impact

Sara Stringer
Maximizing the School Counselor’s Impact

The secretary. The custodian. The counselor. These people in your building play an often behind-the-scenes, yet vitally important, role in your program’s success. Of these three, however, the counselor is often the most underutilized. It was not until I became a school counselor (after 10 years of teaching band) that I realized the many ways counselors affected my band program and wished I had known then what I know now.

SmartMusic Repertoire Update: April 2018

SmartMusic Official
SmartMusic Repertoire Update: April 2018

This month we’ve added 12 new ensemble titles to the SmartMusic Repertoire Library. Included are pieces for choir, concert band, jazz ensemble, and string orchestra. View the complete list.

Methods and Solos

This month we added a series of three guitar method books from FJHMusic, Young Beginner Guitar Method, Books 1-3.

Navigation Improvements in the New SmartMusic

SmartMusic Official
Improvements in the New SmartMusic

Next week the new SmartMusic will look different.

You’ll enjoy a more efficient interface, as well as several additional enhancements in assignment creation, content search, and grading. Today we offer a sneak preview of some of the key improvements, many of which will be also visible to students.

Band-master or Band-mentor?

Jodie Blackshaw
Band-master or Band-mentor?

A few years ago I was a composer-in-residence at a university. While there I worked with many of the students, as well as with outlying teachers. One teacher was at the beginning of her second year of teaching. Her undergraduate degree had included creative music-making pedagogy, and according to staff at the university, she was a star student.

What If Students Programmed Your Next Concert?

Ted Scalzo
What If Students Programmed Your Next Concert?

Imagine a conversation like this in your classroom:

Director: Today I propose to do something for you that none of your other teachers will ever do. I’m prepared to let you decide what we will work on in this class.

Students: [Most showing interest, except for some percussionists who appear to be digging a tunnel.]

Director: Specifically, I will let you choose what we will perform on the next concert.

SmartMusic Ask Me Anything

SmartMusic Official
SmartMusic Ask Me Anything

The new SmartMusic improves so quickly, it can be hard to keep track off all that’s new, let alone what you can do with it for just $40 a year.

In this archived webinar, Leigh Kallestad and Giovanna Cruz answer questions music educators have about the new SmartMusic.